Newsletter

Building for the future

John Carrington

Malcolm Williams, left, and Julius Harley cut siding material at the house he and others in SSU's Neighborhood Revitalization Project are working on West 35th Street.

John Carrington

DeAndre Coleman, left, and Julius Harley install siding material to the soffit of the storage shed at the West 35th Street house they built with other members of SSU's Neighborhood Revitalization Project.

John Carrington

Carlos Mitchell, right, and Monique Middleton install a closet door as painting contractor J.C. Cuthbert watches. Middleton and Mitchell are participating in SSU's Neighborhood Revitalization Project. The group has nearly completed two single family homes on West 35th Street.

He tried college but only lasted one year.

He worked a full-time job but didn't see much of a future in it.

Carlos Mitchell didn't know how he would ever fulfill his dreams for his future. Then he enrolled in Savannah State University's Neighborhood Revitalization Project.

For nine months Mitchell has brushed up on basic academics and finance, and learned about construction and renovation. Then under the mentorship of local contractors he applied what he learned and built a house - everything but laying brick and putting on the roof.

"I learned concrete forming, framing, and we're working on electrical wiring now," Mitchell said as he installed the closet door of a two-bedroom house in Cuyler-Brownville. "The top performer from our group will be hired as the assistant on-site manager for the next project. I'm hoping I'll get that. I want to learn as much as I can."

SSU's program, much like the city of Savannah's Youth Build, provides young people age 16 to 24 with skills that will help them build bright futures.

"They'll be able to leave here and walk into an apprenticeship," said Augustus Brown, the program's on-site construction manager.

The first group of participants will complete the house they are working on in March, and it will be sold by the city's Neighborhood Improvement Association. Recruitment for a second group of trainees is under way.

"We want people who see the potential in themselves," said program coordinator Corey Phillips. "We had some guys whose mom and dad dragged them here. But once they saw they had an opportunity to change their lives, their attitudes changed."

It's tough work and it requires young people, many who have had led tough lives, to be disciplined and determined.

The program started last year with 15 participants. Twelve have nearly completed the training; one broke his leg in a hit-and-run accident; and two were arrested and went to jail on probation violations.

"It's real life and you can't stop their life circumstances from happening," Phillips said. "But one of the biggest things they learn is to overcome adversity. And even though things might be tough they see that they can do it." It's a lesson that Phillips taught well.

"Even one of those that was incarcerated realized he made a mistake and is missing out on a great opportunity. He's trying to work with us and his probation officer to get back into the program."

All of the participants have big dreams but some either dropped out of high school, like Monique Middleton and Julius Harley, or drifted in dead-end jobs, like James Bauner.

Middleton, the only female in the group, dropped out in 10th grade. But the weeks of training have prepared her for the GED and the future. She carried a bucket of primer into an unfinished bedroom and didn't flinch as it splattered her pink sweatshirt and acrylic nails.

"This will change my life," she said. "I won't have to struggle."

Bauner believes it will bring him stability and put an end to his wandering. "I like it. I kind of get a sense of pride and joy out of it," he said. "At my warehouse jobs I was just there for the money."

Seventeen-year-old Harley, the youngest of the trainees, said the training taught him far more than just basic skills and a trade.

"I dropped out of seventh grade because I was too old and I didn't know how I was going to get back up," he said.

But something happened as Harley caught up on what he missed in school. "Each time I took a section of the GED I would pass and get high scores, he said. "I never realized how smart I was."

So in the first month of the program, when Harley's parents tired of waiting for his stipend check to come and told him he could quit, Harley refused.

"I wanted to stick with it because I could see I could really get something out of this," he said. "They say God gives second chances and he's given me three or four. I want to grab this one."

The Savannah State program operates with funding, instruction and facilities provided by Housing and Urban Development, the City of Savannah Bureau of Public Development, St. Mary's Community Center, Savannah Technical College and St. Paul's CME Church. The program provides each student with a stipend, which increases as they complete basic skills or GED tutorials, train in construction, and build homes. It also matches every dollar the students save four-to-one, if they use the money to further their education, purchase a home or start a business.

Mitchell and several others in the program have plans to go into business.

"Five of us are trying to start a business," he said. "We're going to the Entrepreneurial Center to work out a business plan."

SSU Neighborhood Revitalization Project

The Savannah State University Neighborhood Revitalization Project is currently recruiting youth to participate in its second nine-month construction and academic skills program. Young people age 16 to 24 who dropped out of high school or lack the skills for college will be paid a stipend that increases as they complete basic skills or GED tutorials, train in construction, and build a home.

The program will match every dollar saved four-to-one, if it is used for continuing education, to purchase a home or to start a business.

Participants must apply and be selected for enrollment and must be available to participate 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday for the full nine-month program.

Only those who complete all nine months of training will be eligible to receive matching funds.